Chapter 5
The kiss lingered long after Keena stepped through the apartment door. Not just the tingling on her lips, but all the way down to her bones.
She stood just inside the entryway while Brice disappeared farther into the apartment. She shrugged out of her coat and hung it up on one of the hooks beside the door.
The soft glow from the lamp in the front window spilled across the room. It bathed everything in its warm amber light. It wasn’t bright enough to chase away every shadow, but it made the apartment feel warm and welcoming.
Keena swallowed hard. She shouldn’t be here. Every instinct she had ever trusted being an enforcer told her to turn and leave. She should apologize again for kissing Brice and then leave before she complicated things even more.
Mine.
“No,” she muttered under her breath. Her wolf had a different plan.
“What did you say?” Brice called out from somewhere in the apartment.
“Nothing.” Keena straightened. She sighed, slightly embarrassed to be caught arguing with her animal.
“Oh, I thought you were talking to me,” Brice laughed.
Keena quietly shut the door behind her. Warmth from the apartment wrapped around her almost immediately replacing the December chill.
Even though she was a shifter and ran hot, she didn’t get as cold as humans would, but she still felt it.
In her animal form, her beast loved the bone chilling air and the mountains of snow that would be outside in the wild.
She looked around. The apartment wasn’t large, but it was open and inviting.
The living room flowed naturally into a small dining area and kitchen.
This area had been remodeled along with the shop downstairs.
Keena remembered the previous owner had utilized this space as storage.
She could appreciate the handwork that went into turning it into a living space.
It represented everything about the woman who lived there.
Keena noticed one thing that stood out. Books.
They were everywhere. A tall bookshelf stretched across one wall.
It was packed so full that paperbacks had been stacked horizontally on top of the shelves.
Another shorter shelf sat beside the television and was overflowing with hardcovers and small bookends shaped like dragons.
Keena narrowed her eyes on those. Her animal huffed.
Why not a set of wolves?
A tiny Christmas tree stood in the corner beside the window decorated with minature books and other holiday ornaments. The white lights glowed brightly against the dark green branches.
A knitted blanket had been tossed carelessly over the arm of the couch.
Another thing she noticed was that Brice apparently had not only an obsession with books, but candles too.
They were everywhere. On the mantle, the bookshelves, the kitchen counter, on the end tables and even the window ledges.
She breathed in and caught each fragrance.
Vanilla. Orange peel. Cinnamon. Cranberry.
They all blended in together with the lingering aroma of coffee and something sweet. It wasn’t overwhelming for her shifter nose, but it felt like…home.
The realization caused Keena to stiffen. Her own cabin suddenly flashed through her mind. A couch, a chair, one coffee mug left drying by the sink…one toothbrush…everything for one person.
Brice’s apartment was her home and every detail revealed something about the person who lived there.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Brice said. She flew out of the bedroom and headed to the kitchen. “I’m just going to get the coffee started.”
“Um, thanks.” Keena pinched the bridge of her nose. Her wolf paced beneath her skin and was enchanted by everything that smelled of Brice.
Mine.
“You are becoming a problem,” she whispered. She didn’t want Brice to think she was talking to her again. Her wolf only huffed again.
“I was going to light the fireplace.” Brice appeared carrying a stack of split firewood balanced in her arms. She set the logs near the cold hearth. “But…”
“But what?” Keena glanced toward the stone fireplace.
“I’m not really good at it.” A sheepish expression came across her face. She looked so damn cute. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. Keena raised an eyebrow at her. “I usually smoke myself out before it actually catches.”
A surprised laugh escaped Keena’s lips before she could stop it. Brice looked ridiculously pleased that she had managed to coax the sound from her even if it was accidental.
“I’ve got it.” Keena moved over to the hearth.
“You don’t mind? I love having the fireplace. That’s what enticed me about the building. One down in the shop and one up here,” she said.
“It’s not that hard,” Keena said. She knelt down in front of the hearth with a sure confidence. She had plenty of experience from years of camping and long winters in the White Mountains. Brice hovered nearby for a second before she went into the kitchen.
She arranged the kindling perfectly and tucked a few smaller pieces beneath the larger ones and left enough room where air could get through the pieces.
She struck a match and the flames caught almost immediately.
Within moments, fire curled around the wood.
A sharp crack echoed through the room as one of the logs settled.
“Show off,” Brice playfully grumbled behind her. She leaned against the counter and laughed. “I’ve officially decided you’re useful to keep around.”
She disappeared back into the kitchen while humming a holiday song. Something lodged inside of Keena unexpectedly.
Keep around.
Her wolf paused its pacing, happy that Brice wanted them around.
“I’m going to put on some music. It’s too quiet in here,” Brice said. Seconds later, rich soulful voices drifted through the apartment. Old school Christmas music came on. Smooth harmonies filled the air and Keena closed her eyes briefly.
Her mother used to play this same song while decorating the tree. Her mother was a big fan of 1970’s music and when it was the holiday time, she’d blast the Christmas songs while singing along with it. Her father would join in singing off key just to make her mother laugh.
Keena hadn’t thought about those days in years. Not because she’d forgotten, but because it hurt to remember.
The song settled into the background as the fire crackled.
She stood and stared into the growing flames.
She basked in the sound of the music while remembering how her parents would even dance with each other while she laughed and watched them.
Her father would then move from her mother and lift Keena up and dance with her too.
She blinked back unexpected tears.
“Where’s the bathroom?” Keena blurted out. Brice was moving swiftly in the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit her. She didn’t know if she truly needed to relieve herself or if she just needed an escape. Probably the latter.
“Through the bedroom,” Brice said.
Keena’s wolf immediately perked up.
“Behave,” Keena muttered. She ran a hand along her face at the way her animal was acting.
“What?” Brice said.
“Nothing.”
“I’m starting to think you talk to yourself a lot,” Brice giggled. She moved over to the cabinets and opened them. She pulled out a couple of large mugs.
“You have no idea.” She followed the short hallway toward the bedroom.
The door stood partially open. She caught herself looking inside before she could stop herself.
The room was simple and comfortable. A deep red and cream quilt covered the bed and a stack of books rested on the nightstand beside a small reading lamp.
A pair of glasses sat atop one of the open novels.
The room was nothing extravagant, but it was peaceful.
Keena slipped inside and tried not to look around too much. If felt too intimate seeing where Brice slept. She went into the adjoining bathroom and quickly locked the door behind her.
The silence hit her immediately.
She braced both hands on the sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her brown cheeks were flushed slightly. Her lips still looked slightly swollen from kissing Brice.
The memory slammed into her without warning.
Soft supple lips. Warm breath. A hint of sweetness from whatever Brice had eaten. The tiny sounds Brice had made when she kissed her back.
Keena squeezed her eyes shut.
“What are you doing?” she muttered.
Mine.
“No.” Keena shook her head. She opened her eyes and stared at herself as if she were looking directly at her wolf. “You don’t get to decide.”
The wolf’s growl was impatient. Keena turned on the cold water and washed her hands.
It didn’t help.
If anything it made her more aware of her surroundings.
Everything in the room carried Brice’s scent—from the shampoo sitting on the shelf along the wall, to the lotion that sat on the counter, her soap in the shower, and even the fluffy towel that hung neatly beside the sink—they all smelled of Brice.
It surrounded Keena from every direction.
She dried her hands with the hand towel and looked at herself one more time.
“You are having one cup of coffee then leaving. No touching Brice.” She pointed at her own reflection. Her wolf wasn’t convinced. Keena unlocked the bathroom and walked out through Brice’s room.
She lingered in the hallway for a heartbeat before making her way back into the living room. The fire had grown into a lively blaze while she’d been in the bathroom. Brice stood in the kitchen with her back to Keena, pouring coffee into the mugs.
The old school holiday playlist drifted through the apartment. At the moment, the Jackson 5 was singing about seeing their mother kiss Santa Claus. The entire apartment felt as though Christmas itself had decided to move in.
“There you are.” Brice glanced over her shoulder. A small smile lingered on her lips as she picked up the mugs and came into the living room. She held one out to Keena. “I hope I guessed right.”
Keena accepted it carefully. She glanced down into it and held back her surprise. Black. No cream or sugar. Steam curled upward from the porcelain mug.